LBJackal wrote:There's no reason other than coicnidence that he(Clemens) was that much better at home.

Wow, do you really believe that? See he started 20 games at home, 54% more than away. Larger sample size = greater accuracy, you know that LBJ, right? I believe that is the most starts at home for a SP last year but someone come along an correct me.

LBJackal wrote:He got his fat contract, and in his mind is in Del Boca Vista right now. Not something I'd invest in.

I'm sure Clemens mind is on the season now but he is the type of athlete that can shift his focus with great power. I'm sure he parties and vacations like none other but he also focuses on the game like none other. We are talking about one of the most focused and competitive athletes of all time.

2002: 29 GS and a 4.35 ERA
2003: 33 GS and a 3.91 ERA

Then he moves to a park that allows a LOT of HR's especially with righties on the mound, and you say it's not a fluke he shaves a run off of his ERA? At age 42? You'll never be proven wrong until the season starts so lets just wait until we see how he does.

News flash: That old stadium in the Bronx where Rocket used to pitch? Not a great pitcher's park for righties. So stop with the ballpark comparisons, already. With the exception of a couple of locales (and we know what those are) the ballpark matters little if the pitcher is great. And last year, Clemens was sensational.

That said, I think he's a poor risk this year. Might not be in typical Rocket shape based on spring maladies, and the Astros are not goin to be very good. The setup guys in front of Lidge are brutal, which likely means a few less wins for all the starters.

thehat wrote:News flash: That old stadium in the Bronx where Rocket used to pitch?

Not a great pitcher's park for righties

. So stop with the ballpark comparisons, already. With the exception of a couple of locales (and we know what those are) the ballpark matters little if the pitcher is great. And last year, Clemens was sensational.

People aren't overly enthused about Clemens because he spent several years convincing us that he was no longer sensational. Good, but not upper tier. He changed teams once again...and like he's done every time he changed teams, he pitched great and won a Cy Young. This is a pattern we've seen before. So be encouraged that he's coming off a great year, but if you've been playing fantasy ball a few years you're not going to be too certain that he'll be as overpowering this year. The wild card here that we HAVEN'T seen before is the change of leagues. Did Clemens eat up the NL simply because they were unfamiliar with him, or because after years of battling tough DH's it sure was fun to breeze thru an automatic out at the bottom of the order two or three times a game? How big a factor was the somewhat novel way the 'Stros were using him? Will he continue to exploit these factors in 2005, or revert to the form of the prior few years? Nobody knows for sure, but there are enough doubts to keep him off the top of lots of our lists.